For a bunch of reasons, including geography, access, and need, I made friends with Mark and SAtan at Early Classic Enterprises during the (non-correct) resto of my last REAL truck, a metal-floor '72 SWB with a 350/350/350
(Ha!...The middle one is the HP) .
The primary reason we made friends is that they were WONDERFUL to this rookie while I was building. Going waaaay further than just a bunch of folks that make a living from selling parts.
Aside from the friendship, which in the long-run has been more important to me than the truck, the result was that the truck made a really large and nice "reader's ride" spread in Classic Trucks (March of '04) and landed on the ECE website.
I was proud of the truck. But, alas, doo-doo happens. The truck was sold as a part of my retirement plan. I went down to ECE to check the bulletin board they have on the wall. I asked the guys what they thought I sould sell it for.
They said, "Write down what you have in it".
I didn't want to do that. I was already depressed enough by the realization that the proceeds of the sale had to go to spring me from the ball and chain of a 42-year work span.
But I did. It came to just over $26 large. Not a show truck, mind you. Okay, enough of a truck to win a couple of local get together shows. But not like many that grace the pages of this Board.
So, I made a list and then told Mark and Stan how much I had in it.
They both (if I remember correctly) piped up at the same time: "Cut it in half!!!"
After that, I took it to one more show. I put a for-sale sign in the front and rear window. Talked to the usual suspects all day. It won. The next day, a local guy called.
He came and drove it home for $12,000.
Point: The trucks bring what they bring on the day you sell them. As an investment, I absolutely believe that a lousy rate on a CD is a better idea. I respect the perspective that questions
how much to put into a truck...or even car for that matter (especially if it's a '79 falcon station wagon).But our investments are made not so much for the pure dollar value of the net.
The "value" is a little more esoteric. Much like a trip to Europe, or wherever, it's about the experience.
Including the pleasure (HA!) of the build.
I should know...I'm lame enough to be doing it all over again.
Here's the first one. A few more that you can "click" on at
http://www.magwa.org